by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY Sports' NBA power rankings panel wasn't about to hand the Heat the top spot for nothing. Then Miami won 15 consecutive games while competitors showed cracks. Now the Heat are on top, where they belong as defending champions.

The Heat were our preseason No. 1 but relinquished the title when they lost two games early in the season and haven't had it since. But the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown cracks because of a lack of depth, and the San Antonio Spurs just lost Tony Parker for four weeks with a sprained ankle.